Written by

Jamie Samuelsen

Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

Jamie Samuelsen, co-host of the “Jamie and Wojo” show at 6 p.m. weekdays on WXYT-FM (97.1), blogs for freep.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the Detroit Free Press nor its writers. You can reach him at jamsam22@gmail.com, follow him on Twitter @jamiesamuelsen and read more of his opinions at freep.com/jamie.

Nicklas Lidstrom’s No. 5 will be retired next season. Which Detroit sports athlete should have his number retired next?

Nicklas Lidstrom is the last of his kind – at least for a while.

I’m not talking about the fact that he was a once-in-a-generation defenseman and perhaps the best player in hockey over the last 20 years. I’m talking about the fact that he’s the last of the no-brainers in Detroit when it comes to retiring a jersey number. When Steve Yzerman retired following the 2006 season, it was a question of when, not if, No. 19 would be retired. Lidstrom is the same. 100% of the people responding would agree that No. 5 belongs in the rafters at the Joe along side the rest of the immortals who played for the Red Wings.

And perhaps that should be the standard. Making the Hall of Fame in any sport is debatable in most cases. This year, not a single baseball player was elected to Cooperstown on the regular ballot (although the ongoing PED scandal had something to do with that.) But in many years in many Halls, there are borderline guys who get in. And there are borderline guys who are left out. But when it comes to retiring uniform numbers, perhaps there should be a 100 percent standard. It should be reserved for the very best of the very best – like Lidstrom.

But this is the real sports world – and some questionable numbers have been retired over the years (Vinnie Johnson?). So with that, let’s look at the candidates to have their numbers retired next.

Detroit Red Wings

Sergei Fedorov – He’s the last Red Wing to win the Hart Trophy. He was a Selke winner. Praise Yzerman all you want, but Fedorov was a vital performer on every one of those Red Wings Stanley Cup teams as well. The downside of Fedorov, of course, was that he signed the offer sheet with Carolina in 1998 and then bolted town for less money to sign with the Ducks in 2003. Some fans have never forgiven him for that. Those fans need to get over it. Fedorov is simply one of the greatest players ever to wear a Red Wings uniform. I think his number should be retired. But I doubt it ever will because of how he left town. VERDICT – NO

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Brendan Shanahan – Shanahan was the final piece of the Cup puzzle when he arrived in the fall of 1996. He was here for all three of those early Cups as well and scored some huge goals in the postseason. I’ll never forget the image of Shanahan after he dumped in an empty-netter to close out the Avs and launch the Wings into the ’97 Finals. But Shanahan actually played more games for other teams (Blues, Whalers, Devils, Rangers) than he did in Detroit. And he’s done himself no favors in this city with his recent role as the Director of Player Safety (Shea Weber, Justin Abdelkader). VERDICT – NO

Chris Osgood – This is the most intriguing debate by far. If you blotted out Osgood’s name and strictly looked at the numbers, he’s a no-brainer for the Hall of Fame and a no-brainer to have his number retired. 401 wins. 50 shutouts. Two Stanley Cups as a starter and one as a back-up. But there is this misguided perception of Osgood that he just happened to be a goalie for already great teams. Add to that some of those long goals that he allowed in 1994 and 1998 and some fans view him as a weakness, not a strength. I think that’s a joke. Osgood remains the single most under-appreciated athlete in Detroit history. No man put up with more second-guessing and more criticism, and came through with more success than Osgood. He absolutely should have his number retired. But the standard for the Red Wings is so high that I doubt he will. VERDICT – NO

Detroit Pistons

Chauncey Billups – Mr. Big Shot is back and as a result he’ll have a chance to finish his career where he should – in Detroit, wearing the No. 1. I think it was an insult to Billups and his legacy that the team allowed Allen Iverson and Andre Drummond to wear the number after Billups’ departure. And while Billups has played for six NBA teams, his impact in Detroit was profound. He played here for six seasons in the 2000s and the Pistons advanced at least as far as the Eastern Conference Finals in each one of those seasons. If you list off the greatest Pistons ever, Billups is on that list and his number should go up in the rafters. VERDICT – YES

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Ben Wallace – Detroit is the only city in America where Wallace could be a superstar. And that’s exactly what he was. He started the turnaround when the Pistons were floundering at the turn of the century. He was the first All-Star to come from the title contender. And he was the identity of the organization as they were “Goin’ To Work” on the way to the 2004 NBA Title. Many of you will think that if Billups goes up, then Wallace should too. And it’s hard to argue that point. But the end of Wallace’s first go-around with the Pistons left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth as he bolted for Chicago for more money. So I say no. VERDICT – NO

Detroit Lions

Jason Hanson – I love the Lions fan that thinks that Hanson should make the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It’s adorable. But it’s never, ever going to happen. The Hall doesn’t take kickers for the most part. And if they do, it will be a kicker who made a profound impact on the post season or the Super Bowl (like Adam Vinatieri). But for the Lions, Hanson is a lock. He played more games, scored more points and kicked more field goals than any Lion ever. VERDICT – YES

Calvin Johnson – Clearly he’s the best receiver in Lions history. And before all is said and done, he may be the greatest receiver ever. And this is coming from someone who has bowed down at the altar of Jerry Rice. Johnson will never reach the postseason heights that Rice did, but he may compile all of the numbers. Assuming his career goes the way that it’s going, he’s a lock for the Hall of Fame and a lock to have #81 retired. VERDICT – YES

Matthew Stafford – Stafford has some work to do. He’s only played two full NFL seasons and yet he’s already knocking on the door of virtually every career franchise passing record. If he can get this team into the playoffs and win some games, he’ll own this city. But he hasn’t won those games yet. VERDICT – WAY TOO EARLY

Detroit Tigers

Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker – This is a very timely debate given the fact that Jose Iglesias will wear Whitaker’s No. 1 becoming the first player to do so since Whitaker retired in 1995. The Tigers have already given out Trammell’s No. 3 to Gary Sheffield when he was acquired in 2006. I’m not crazy about either move. These two guys are legends in Detroit and deserve to have their numbers retired. And if there is any justice, both will be retired on the same day just as both players entered Tiger Stadium together on that last night in 1999. But if it hasn’t happened by now, I don’t know why it will happen later. I think both should be retired. But it’s not happening. VERDICT – NO

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Miguel Cabrera – This debate is quickly becoming irrelevant, as Cabrera will now go up against Al Kaline, Hank Greenberg and Ty Cobb in the debate – who is the greatest Tiger ever? It might be Cabrera. If it weren’t for his recent abdominal strain, he’d almost be favored to win back-to-back Triple Crowns. It hurts him that he didn’t play his entire career here and he hasn’t (yet) won a World Series as a Tiger. Still, he’s one of the all-time greats in the history of the sport. And he will have a statue at Comerica Park one day. VERDICT – YES

Justin Verlander – It’s funny what a cold spell can do to a guy. If you’d asked me in March when Verlander signed his massive contract extension, I would have said that he’s a lock. But as he’s struggled a bit this season making some wonder if the rest of baseball has caught up to him, it does give you pause. That said, he’s only 30. He has all the ability in the world. And he has plenty of very good years ahead of him. If I were betting, I’d bet on Verlander who has always been driven by the quest for greatness more than anything else. VERDICT – EARLY, BUT YES

Jim Leyland – No. I’m not pointing this out to be controversial or make waves because I know that many of you are not enamored with Leyland’s managerial style. But consider the fact that this is his eighth year with the Tigers. He’s closing in on his third straight division title. He’s won the third most games in franchise history behind Sparky Anderson and Hughie Jennings. He shows no signs of slowing down. And he has the benefit of managing Cabrera, Verlander and Prince Fielder among others for the foreseeable future. There’s a chance that he could end up with as many World Series titles in Detroit as Sparky (and perhaps more). If he does that, don’t you think there’s a chance that #10 will be retired alongside #11? VERDICT – NO (BUT IT COULD)

There’s no science here. There’s just gut feeling. For every time I say yes, you may say no. That’s the beauty of these debates. The only downside is that sometimes politics and personal grudges get in the way. It’s a shame that Sparky Anderson passed away before the Tigers rightly honored his legacy in Detroit. If a man deserves to have his number retired, he deserves it. Don’t let pettiness stop the fans from the chance to honor a legend.

Lidstrom doesn’t have to wait, nor should he. Let’s hope these other players don’t have to wait either.